[UPDATE 3 ] Spotify has filed its long rumored initial stock offering seeking $1 billion from the public markets. Unlike the traditional IPO, Spotify, which will trade on the NASDAQ using the ticker symbol SPOT, is offering guidance of between $90.00 and $132.50 per share, based on recent private stock sales.

Love it or loath it, SXSW is an important time for the music industry and those involved with it, presenting a vast wealth of opportunities for growing your brand, networking, and also enjoying the show. With so many options, we here assist in how best to break down your time at SXSW, whether you're a first-timer or seasoned vet.

Here Sunny Stuart Winter sat down to chat with Dr. Jennifer Otter Bickerdike, author of Why Vinyl Matters about the longevity of the format's resurgence, it's subcultural capital, and the strong connects which it has with fans.

You may want to get in line early this Record Store Day. In advance of Led Zeppelin’s 50th Anniversary celebration, slated to commence this September, the band will wet fan’s appetites with their first ever Record Store Day release on April 21st, 2018.

Recent changes in Facebook's algorithm have sent musicians and music marketers scrambling for new ways to grab the attention of the social network's massive audience. The jury is still out on most tactics, but one thing is certain: Facebook ranks and delvers more eyeballs to live video.

Online ticket marketplace Razorgator laid off the staff at its Marina del Rey headquarters and locked the doors yesterday. No ticket inventory is available on its site. The startup has hired David M. Johnson of financial advisory firm Sherwood Partners to assist with the “formal insolvency process.”

Gaana has raised $115 million, as the music streamer's home market of India continues to attract new competitors. Leading the round is Chinese internet giant Tencent, who has become a steady supporter of streaming music globally.

Archie Hamilton and Krish Raghav take a hard look at the state of the Chinese music industry. After a mixed 2017, hopes are somewhat high for the coming months, with with the influence of China's music continuing to spread globally.

Canada’s beleaguered independent music sector failed to get the funding support it sought this week, as Canadian Finance Minister Bill Morneau tabled a federal budget that charts a course for the ruling Liberal Party as it prepares for the 2019 election.

While Facebook hasn't entered into the streaming game yet, it does seem to be leaning that way, having recently dipped a second toe in after signing a deal with ICE Services, a licensing group representing several European performing rights organizations.

As rumored, Amazon has rolled out its Prime Music service in India, with apps available for web, Android and iOS. The streaming service is now included in all Rs. 999/$15 USD annual Amazon Prime memberships which includes shipping, video and other perks.. Local competitors including Saavn, Gaana, Apple Music and Google Play Music charge between Rs. 1,200 ($15) and Rs. 1,440 ($22) yearly, just for music

Live Nation Entertainment reported both an impressive final quarter of 2017 and and strong full year results, according to the latest financial filings from the concert giant. For 2017, Live Nation reported revenue of $10.3 billion for the year, up 24% from 2016.

As social media grows and changes, it can be difficult to keep pace, and just once you feel you've got something figured out, your knowledge instantly becomes obsolete. Facebook is no exception, as we delve into the best practice for utilizing the platform in 2018.

45 music industry conferences and festivals have pledged to achieve a 50/50 gender balance across their festivals by 2022, including live line-ups, conferences and commissions. The international effort, which is led by the PRS Foundation’s International Keychange, has signed on dozens of major European fests and conference, along with 4 events in Canada and just 2 in the United States.

In taking a closer look at the language used in the controversial Music Modernization Act, Chris Castle here speculates that the bill may contain some of the same content as an orphan works bill that went down in flames.

Leading international music conference Midem has launched the 2018 edition of its Midemlab music-related startup competition, with Kima Ventures, Ticketmaster, Google, and Tencent joining the jury. Midem will be in Cannes, France June 5-8.

In this piece we explore Kendrick Lamar's evolution both as a rapper and producer, with the latter most recently showcased on Black Panther: The Album. A work "inspired by the film", this release signals Lamar's ascent to the top of the music industry.

Here notable artists Mary Wilson and Darlene Love make a powerful case in favor of shutting the massive loophole which currently allows digital music services to artists and rights owners attached to music recorded before 1972.

One U.S. Senator's vote is all that is need to help stop the repeal of net neutrality. Today, Tuesday, February 27th, please join us and other net neutrality supporters and major web platforms in Operation: #OneMoreVote, a mass day of online and offline action.

Music collaboration tech developer Splice has acquired Indaba Music. Indaba is an online music community of more than a million creators. Indaba’s Founder Dan Zaccagnino and CEO, JJ Rosen, a former Sony exec, will join Splice’s executive team, bringing along eight team members. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

While there has long been a crusade from the powers that be to de-fang small publishers and independent songwriters as much as possible to prevent them from suing major companies like Spotify, the streaming platform's new public status could shareholders a legal leg-up.

The price of vinyl is continuing to soar, with many new records costing upwards of $40. Used vinyl prices are also hitting unbelievable highs. Here we look at some of the most expensive releases sold in 2017.

Global recorded music industry trade group IFPI has named Ed Sheeran as the world’s best-selling recording artist of 2017 following the record-breaking success of his third studio album ÷ (Divide) and its global single hits Shape of You, Castle on the Hill, Galway Girl and Perfect.

Antony Bruno from Royalty Exchange joins Michael Brandvold and Jay Gilbert on the Music Biz Weekly Podcast. They discuss how songwriters can buy and sell their music rights and copyrights on the platform.